Attic ladder



Aug. 13, y1929.

H. W. CHARLES 'ATTIC LADDER Filed Feb. 24, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l H-UJ.CHHRLES Aug. 13, H, w CHARLES 1,724,824 ATTIC LADDER Filed Feb. 24, 192 2 sheetssheet 2 Q E w INVENTOR.

,y H uLCHHRLEs Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

UNITED STATES HOMER W. CHARLES, 0F PORTLAND, OREGON.

ATTIC LADDER.

Application filed February 24, 1928.

This invention relates to improvements in attic ladders and has particular reference to a ladder adapted to be used in ascending into an attic, which ladder may be entirely concealed when not in use.

A further object is to produce a device of this character which is easy to operate due to the fact that the ladder is counter balanced by movable Weights.

Another object is to produce a ladder of this character which is economical to manufacture as well as neat in appearance.

A further object is to produce a ladder which will be safe and well braced against accidental slippage.

A still further objectis to provide a ladder which is capable of being moved. into an attic having a limited amount of headroom.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a vertical cross section of a building having my invention applied thereto showing the ladder in full lines when lowered and in dotted lines when being moved into the closed position,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 1 showing the ladder in closed posi tion, and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail perspective view showing the manner of securing the foot of the ladder to the door panel.

In many types of houses, such as bungalows, there is often no provision made for ascending into the attic space other than by using a trap door in the ceiling of one of the rooms and employing an ordinary step ladder or the like. This procedure is not only dangerous but is also extremely diilicult particularly if it is desired to store material in the attic and Where it is necessary to carry this material up a shaking step ladder.

In the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates one of the walls of the house and the numeral 6 another wall of the house and the numeral 7 a space formed within the wall 6. A roof is shown at 8 which forms an attic above the floor 9, while the customary ceiling is shown at 11. An

Serial No. 256,781.

opening is shown at 12 which o ening eX- tends through the'ceiling 11 and goor 9 and forms a means of entering the attic space 13.

-A hinged panel or door is shown at 14 which panel is preferably finshed so as to conform with the finish of the ceiling and to therefore be pleasing in appearance rather than unsightly. This panel is hinged as at 16 Aand provided With a latch 17 which may be operated in any convenient manner, here shown by a cord 18. This panel has blocks 19 secured to the opposite sides thereof, which blocks serve to pivotally support the ends of the braces 21. These braces pass through guides 22 carried upon the sides of the opening 12. Each brace carries a stop block 23 and is further provided with a recess 24. The result of this construction is that when the panel 14 is in the full line position of Figure l the stop blocks 23 Will engage the guides 22 and therefore maintain the panel 14 in its open position and at the same time rigid.

When the panel is in the dotted line position of Figure 1 the notches 24 will engage the guides 22 and will then hold the panel in the adjusted position and at the same time rigid. Mounted upon the panel 14 are hook like members 26 which are adapted to engage pins 27 carried upon the opposite sides `of the ladder and at a point near the bot-tom thereof.

The ladder is designated as a whole by the numeral 28. Carried at the upper end of the ladder is a hooked element 29 which is adapted to engage the upper edge of the opening 12 and to therefore support the upper end of the ladder. At 31 I have shown a counter weight which is connected to a. cable 32 which is reaved lover pulleys 33 and 34. The opposite end of this cable is attached to the ladder as shown at 36.

The result of this construction is that, assuming the ladder is in the position shown in Figure 1 and it is desired to close the same7 the person desiring to perform this act lifts upwardly on the ladder and due to the balancing action of the counter weight, t-he ladder may be moved upwardly without any material effort. As soon as the ladder' has reached the point Where the head room will not permit further movement the ladder and panel 14 may be swung to dotted line position 4of Figure 1 at which time the notches 24 in the brace 21 will engage the guide and hold the panel in this newly ad-V justed position until the ladder has been entirely elevated and pins 27 engage the hook element 26. As soon as this occurs the panel la may be entirely closed thus concealing the ladder within the attic.

lt will thus be seen that I have produced a device which will perform all the objects above set forth. f

lt is to be understoodthat the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the sameand that Various changes relative t0. the material, size, sha-pe and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

- Having thus described my invention, I claim In a device ,of the character described, the combination with a building having a. ceiling therein, said ceiling having Van opening formed therethrough, of a panel hingedly secured to one side of said openingr in such a manner as to close said opening, a ladder having its upper extremityextending into said opening, a counter weight secured to said ladder, braces secured to said panel, said braces havingl sliding enga-gement with guides carried in the side of said opening, means vfor limiting the movement of said braces, and hooked elements carried on said panel, said hooked elements being adapted to Vengage pins carried on the opposite sides of said ladder at a point adjacent the lower extremity thereof. y

ln testimony whereof I my signature.

Hoi/IER W. CHARLES. 

